Selective preparation of the [3,5-tBu2-1,2,4-C2P3]- ion and synthesis and structure of the cationic species nido-[3,5-tBu2-1,2,4-C2P3]+, isoelectronic with [C5R5]+

Deciphering Pyramidanes: A Quantum Chemical Topology Approach

C[C4H4], the simplest compound of the [4]-pyramidane family, has so far eluded experimental characterization, although several of its analogs, E[C4(SiMe3)4] in which the E apex atom is a tetrel group element, have been successfully prepared. The non-classical bonding mode of E, similar to that found in propellanes, has prompted a considerable number of theoretical studies to unravel the nature of the apex-base interaction. Here, we contribute to this knowledge by analyzing the electron localization function (ELF) and classical QTAIM descriptors; as well the statistical distribution of electrons in atomic regions by means of the so-called electron distribution functions (EDFs), calculation of multicenter indices (MCI) as aromaticity descriptors and by performing orbital invariant energy decompositions with the interacting quantum atoms (IQA) approach on a series of E[C4(SiMe3)4] compounds. We find that the bonding evolves from covalent to electrostatic as E changes from C to Pb, with an anomaly when E=Si, which is shown to be the most charged moiety, compatible with an aromatic [C4(SiMe3)4]2- scaffold in the pyramidane base.

Electrophilic Behavior of the "Nucleophilic" Pyramidane: Reactivity of Ge-Pyramidane towards Organolithium Reagents

The particular reactivity of the recently discovered class of the main group element polyhedral clusters, pyramidanes, remains largely unexplored. In this communication, we report the reaction of the germapyramidane with tert-butyllithium leading to the rather unusual organogermanium compound [Li+(thf)2]⋅2-, as the product of the formal insertion of a Ge-apex into the C-Li bond. This reactivity mode exemplifies unusual electrophilic behaviour of a pyramidane, which is a priori considered as a nucleophilic reagent. Being highly reactive, [Li+(thf)2]⋅2- readily undergoes reactions with electrophiles (MeI, EtBr), initially forming intermediate germahousenes, which isomerize to the thermodynamically more favourable germoles.

Aluminagerma[5]pyramidanes-Formation and Skeletal Rearrangement

The salt metathesis reaction of dipotassium germacyclopentadienediide with aluminum(III) dichlorides provides either half-sandwich alumole complexes of germanium(II) or aluminylene germole complexes. Their molecular structure and the delocalized bonding situation, revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, are equally described as isomeric aluminagerma[5]pyramidanes with either the germanium or the aluminum atom in the apical position of the pentagonal pyramid. The product formation and the selectivity of the reaction depends on the third substituent of the aluminum dichloride. Aryl-substituents favor the formation of alumole complexes and Cp*-substituents that of the isomeric germole complexes. With amino-substituents at the aluminum atom mixtures of both isomers are formed and the positional exchange of the two heteroatoms is shown by NMR spectroscopy. The alumole complexes of germanium(II) undergo facile reductive elimination of germanium and form the corresponding alumoles.

Molecular pyramids - from tetrahedranes to [6]pyramidanes

The study of 3D architectures at a molecular scale has fascinated chemists for generations. This includes molecular pyramids with all-carbon frameworks, such as trigonal, tetragonal and pentagonal pyramidal geometries. A small number of substituted tetrahedranes and all-carbon [4]-[5]pyramidanes have been experimentally generated and studied. Although the hypothetical unsubstituted parent [3]-[6]pyramidanes have only been explored computationally, the formal replacement of carbon vertices with isolobal main group element fragments has provided a number of examples of stable hetero[m]pyramidanes, which have been isolated and amply characterized. In this Review, we highlight the synthesis and chemical properties of [3]-[6]pyramidanes and summarize the progress in the development of chemistry of pyramid-shaped molecules.

Pyramidanes: newcomers to the anti-van't Hoff-Le Bel family

In this feature article, an overview of the chemistry of pyramidanes, as a novel class of main group element clusters, is given. A general introduction sets the scene, briefly presenting the non-classical pyramidal geometry of tetracoordinate carbon, as opposed to the classical tetrahedral configuration. Pyramidanes, as the simplest organic compounds possessing a pyramidal carbon atom, are then discussed from both computational and experimental viewpoints, to show the theoretical predictions on the stability and thus the feasibility of pyramidanes has finally culminated in the isolation of the first stable representatives of the pyramidane family featuring heavy main group elements at the apex of the square pyramid. Synthetic strategies towards pyramidanes, as well as their peculiar structural features, non-classical bonding situations, and specific reactivity, are presented and discussed in this review.

Homoatomic cations: From [P5]+ to [P9]. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022;8:eabq8613. [PMID: 36070385 PMCID: PMC9451154 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq8613]

Recent synthetic approaches to a series of [P₉]X salts (X = [F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂], [Al(OR^F)₄], and (R^F = C(CF₃)₃); Ga₂Cl₇) overcome limitations in classical synthesis methods that proved unsuitable for phosphorus cations. These salts contain the homopolyatomic cation [P₉]⁺ via (I) oxidation of P₄ with NO[F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂], (II) the arene-stabilized Co(I) sandwich complex [Co(arene)₂][Al(OR^F)₄] [arene = ortho-difluorobenzene (o-DFB) and fluorobenzene (FB)], or (III) the reduction of [P₅Cl₂][Ga₂Cl₇] with Ga[Ga₂Cl₇] as Ga(I) source in the presence of P₄. Quantum chemical CCSD(T) calculations suggest that [P₉]⁺ formation from [Co(arene)₂]⁺ occurs via the nido-type cluster [(o-DFB)CoP₄]⁺, which resembles the isoelectronic, elusive [P₅]⁺. Apparently, the nido-cation [P₅]⁺ forms intermediately in all reactions, particularly during the Ga(I)-induced reduction of [P₅Cl₂]⁺ and the subsequent pick up of P₄ to yield the final salt [P₉][Ga₂Cl₇]. The solid-state structure of [P₉][Ga₂Cl₇] reveals the anticipated D_2d-symmetric Zintl-type cage for the [P₉]⁺ cation. Our approaches show great potential to bring other [P_n]⁺ cations from the gas to the condensed phase.

A 1,2,4-diazaphospholyl radical and its nitrogen-phosphorus coupled dimer: synthesis, X-ray structural characterization, EPR analysis, and computational studies

The oxidation of 1,2,4-diazaphospholide potassium (K(+)[]) produces a neutral 1,2,4-diazaphospholyl radical () which can subsequently afford the (N)-(P) dimer involving a N-P linkage.

Electronic structure and bonding in neutral and dianionic boradiphospholes: R'BC2P2R2 (R = H, tBu, R' = H, Ph)

Classical and non-classical isomers of both neutral and dianionic BC(2)P(2)H(3) species, which are isolobal to Cp(+) and Cp(-), are studied at both B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and G3B3 levels of theory. The global minimum structure given by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) for BC(2)P(2)H(3) is based on a vinylcyclopropenyl-type structure, whereas BC(2)P(2)H(3)(2-) has a planar aromatic cyclopentadienyl-ion-like structure. However, at the G3B3 level, there are three low-energy isomers for BC(2)P(2)H(3): 1) tricyclopentane, 2) nido and 3) vinylcyclopropenyl-type structures, all within 1.7 kcal mol(-1) of each other. On the contrary, for the dianionic species the cyclic planar structure is still the minimum. In comparison to the isolobal Cp(+) and H(n)C(n)P(5-n)(+) isomers, BC(2)P(2)H(3) shows a competition between pi-delocalised vinylcyclopropenyl- and cluster-type structures (nido and tricyclopentane). Substitution of H on C by tBu, and H on B by Ph, in BC(2)P(2)H(3) increases the energy difference between the low-lying isomers, giving the lowest energy structure as a tricyclopentane type. Similar substitution in BC(2)P(2)H(3)(2-) merely favours different positional isomers of the cyclic planar geometry, as observed in 1) isoelectronic neutral heterodiphospholes EtBu(2)C(2)P(2) (E = S, Se, Te), 2) monoanionic heterophospholyl rings EtBu(2)C(2)P(2) (E = P(-), As(-), Sb(-)) and 3) polyphospholyl rings anions tBu(5-n)C(n)P(5-n) (n = 0-5). The principal factors that affect the stability of three-, four-, and five-membered ring and acyclic geometrical and positional isomers of neutral and dianionic BC(2)P(2)H(3) isomers appear to be: 1) relative bond strengths, 2) availability of electrons for the empty 2p boron orbital and 3) steric effects of the tBu groups in the HBC(2)P(2)tBu(2) systems.

catena-phosphorus cations

Recent advances towards a systematic development of catena-phosphorus cations are reviewed. The cations represented in this new and developing chapter in fundamental phosphorus chemistry complement the series of neutral and anionic polyphosphorus compounds.

Evidence for a SN2-Type Pathway for Phosphine Exchange in Phosphine–Phosphenium Cations, [R2PPR′3]+

Abstraction of a Cl(-) ion from the P-chlorophospholes, R4C4PCl (R=Me, Et), produced the P--P bonded cations [R4C4P--P(Cl)C4R4]+, which reacted with PPh3 to afford X-ray crystallographically characterised phosphine-phosphenium cations [R4C4P(PPh3)]+ (R=Me, Et). Examination of the 31P-{1H} NMR spectrum of a solution (CH2Cl(2)) of [Et4C4P-(PPh3)]+ and PPh3 revealed broadening of the resonances due to both free and coordinated PPh3, and importantly it proved possible to measure the rate of exchange between PPh3 and [Et4C4P-(PPh3)]+ by line shape analysis (gNMR programmes). The results established second-order kinetics with DeltaS( not equal)=(-106.3+/-6.7) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaH( not equal)=(14.9+/-1.6) kJ mol(-1) and DeltaG( not equal) (298.15 K)=(46.6+/-2.6) kJ mol(-1), values consistent with a SN2-type pathway for the exchange process. This result contrasts with the dominant dissociative (S(N)1-type) pathway reported for the analogous exchange reactions of the [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P(PMe3)]+ ion, and to understand in more detail the factors controlling these two different reaction pathways, we have analysed the potential energy surfaces using density functional theory (DFT). The calculations reveal that, whilst phosphine exchange in [Et4C4P(PPh3)]+ and [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P(PMe3)](+) is superficially similar, the two cations differ significantly in both their electronic and steric requirements. The high electrophilicity of the phosphorus center in [Et4C4P]+, combined with strong pi-pi interactions between the ring and the incoming and outgoing phenyl groups of PPh3, favours the SN2-type over the SN1-type pathway in [Et4C4P(PPh3)]+. Effective pi-donation from the amide groups reduces the intrinsic electrophilicity of [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P]+, which, when combined with the steric bulk of the aryl groups, shifts the mechanism in favour of a dissociative SN1-type pathway.

Monocyclic Di- and Triphosphinophosphonium Cations: New Foundational Frameworks for catena-Phosphorus Chemistry

The synthesis and characterization for trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) salts of the first definitive examples of cyclotriphosphinophosphonium and cyclodiphosphinophosphonium cations are described, representing new prototypical frameworks in the rational and systematic development of catena-phosphorus chemistry. Addition of methyl triflate (MeOTf) or triflic acid (HOTf) to cyclotetraphosphines (tBuP)4 (1a) or (CyP)4 (1b) gives [(tBuP)3PtBuMe][OTf] (2a[OTf]), [(CyP)3PCyMe][OTf] (2b[OTf]), [(tBuP)3PtBuH][OTf] (3a[OTf]), and [(CyP)3PCyH][OTf] (3b[OTf]), respectively. Cyclotriphosphine (tBuP)3 (4a) reacts with HOTF or Me2PCl/Me3SiOTf to give the ring expanded cations 3a[OTf] and [(tBuP)3PMe2][OTf] (5[OTf]), respectively, but reactions with MeOTf and HCl give cyclic diphosphinophosphonium cation [(tBuP)2PtBuMe][OTf] (6a[OTf]) and ring-opened triphosphine HtBuP-PtBu-PtBuCl (7), respectively. The analogous diphosphinophosphonium cation [(CyP)2PCyMe][OTf] (6b[OTf]) is formed along with 2b[OTf] in reactions of MeOTf with (CyP)3 (4b). Compounds 2a[OTf], 2b[OTf], 3a[OTf], 5[OTf], and 6a[OTf] have been crystallographically characterized. 1H NMR spectra of 2a[OTf], 2b[OTf], 5[OTf], and 6a[OTf] demonstrate that 3JPH coupling is only observed for methyl protons if they are in a cis orientation to the lone pairs on the adjacent phosphine sites.

The surprising and stereoselective formation of P2C10 cages by the reduction of Cp*PCl2

Reactions of Cp*PCl2 with Group 13 reducing agents result in a cascade of P-C, P-P and C-C bond forming reactions and the stereoselective formation of P2C10 cages.

Cationic phosphorus–carbon–pnictogen cages isolobal to [C5R5]+

The cationic cages nido-[C2Bu(t)2P2E]+ (E = As, Sb), which are isolobal to the cyclopentadienyl cation, adopt square based pyramidal structures with the heavy pnictogen atom at the apex; NMR and computational methods have been used to probe the dynamic behaviour of the complexes.

Structure and bonding in the isoelectronic series CnHnP5−n+: is phosphorus a carbon copy?

The relative stabilities of different isomers of the isoelectronic series C(n)H(n)P(5-n)(+) have been investigated using G3X theory. The results indicate that all species containing one or more phosphorus atom adopt a three-dimensional nido geometry, in marked contrast to the planar structure favoured by the all-carbon analogue. Within isomeric nido clusters, a strong correlation between total energy and the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) indicates that three-dimensional aromaticity plays a significant role in determining the stability of the cluster. In the context of these nido clusters, the extent to which phosphorus is a carbon copy proves to be highly dependent on the global electronic environment. The first isolobal substitution of CH by P causes a complete switch from localised to delocalised bonding, accompanied by a transition from a two- to a three-dimensional structure, with the phosphorus atom showing a strong preference for the unique apical site. In contrast, further increasing the phosphorus content causes no further change in structure or bonding, suggesting that, at the basal sites, phosphorus is a rather better carbon copy. The low-energy pathways for interconversion of apical and basal atoms previously identified in C(2)H(2)P(3)(+) prove to be a general feature of all members of the series.